Vapor-liquid withdrawal valve



Filed May ll, 1967 G. G. WINTERS ETAL Marc 4, 1969 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A valve device hasbeen provided for attachment to the opening on top 0f a pressurizedcontainer and adapted for the selective withdrawal of liquid or vaportherefrom. It comprises a closure cap such as a standard aerosol valvecap securely tted `within a spud in the opening of the container. Theclosure cap has a closed bottom end with a central opening adapted tothreadedly -receive a hollow externally threaded body. Inside thecontainer, there is a funnel-shaped structure defined by a lower tubular-member and an upper truncated conical section securely engaged into theclosure cap. The conical section contains at least one, but preferablyseveral perforations circumferentially spaced for the passage of vapor.A depressible pin extends centrally through the hollow externallythreaded body. The pin is integrally attached at its lower end to aunitary structure consisting of an upper seat, a lower seat and meansfor connecting the two seats. Depression of the pin lowers the seats sothat either liquid or vapor can be withdrawn depending on the relativepositions of the seats and the vapor passages.

This invention relates to valves and in particular to a speciallyconstructed valve suitable for selective withdrawal of vapor or liquidfrom a pressurized container.

In withdrawing uids from a pressure vessel containing both vapor andliquid under pressure it is sometimes desirable to ywithdraw vapor andat other times to withdraw liquid only. There are several valves orsimilar devices which when mounted on or attached to the top of suchpressure vessel permit the withdrawal of vapor or liquid selectively.Such valves are described for example in U.S. 2,365,423 and 3,021,870.However, these valves as well as many others which are currently in useare often complicated to construct and expensive to fabricate.

In the shipment of refrigerants in recent years, it has becomeincreasingly necessary and economically desirable to ship therefrigerant (usually fluorocarbon) in a pressurized cylinder without aconventional discharge valve. Simplicity of construction and economy offabrication of such cylinders have become of paramount commericalimportance and have in turn resulted in the use of so-called disposablecylinders which can be discarded after one use by the consumer.Simplicity in cylinder construction has in turn necessitated simplicityand economy in the types of dispensing mechanisms which must be employedwith such cylinders.

Accordingly, this invention provides a valve which can be readilymounted on pressurized vessels containing both vapor and liquid underpressure and which can be operated to withdraw vapor or liquidselectively. The valve described herein is simple to fabricate `andeconomical to construct and is therefore readily adaptable for use withsuch disposable cylinders, although it is equally adaptable forre-usable cylinders.

The present invention will be more clearly comprehended from thefollowing detailed description of the invention taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed todesignate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of the valve device of this invention inthe normal closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of the valve shown in FIGURE 1 duringvapor withdrawal operation, and

FIGURE 3 is also a diagrammatic view of the valve shown in the previousgures during liquid withdrawal operation.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE 1, numeral 1 designates a cylinderhaving a central opening provided with a spud 3 and a standard aerosolvalve cap such as closure cap 5 with a flat bottom 7 adapted to receiveexternally threaded member 9 having a passage 11. The closure cap issecurely attached to spud 3 by the crimped sections 13 as shown in thefigures, or alternatively by other means Such as a lock-nut ora snapyring, etc. An elongated member such as depressible pin 15 extendsaxially through passage 11. Pin 15 is embedded or is otherwise securelyattached to a unitary structure consisting of an upper plug member 17, alower plug member 19, connecting arms 21 and a perforation or passageway 21a.

Extending vertically down through the cylinder there is shown asubstantially funnel-shaped member defined by a vertically extendingconduit 23, a substantially truncated conical wall portion 25 (hereafterreferred to as dip tube connector) extending from thelupper end of saidconduit, and a further upward extension 25a adapted for engagement withthe lower end of closure cap 5 as shown in the drawings. The dip tubeconnector contains one or more circumferentially arrayed perforations 27for the passage of vapor from the cylinder as will be explainedhereinafter. A plastic or rubber tubing (dip tube) 23a is attached toconduit 23 or is slipped thereon and extends vertically down to thebottom of the cylinder.

A resilient member such as a spring 29 is xed at its lower end as in 31and adapted to be compressed by the depression of pin 15 and is attachedat its upper end to plug member 17. A fusible metal safety element 33may be sealably positioned at the bottom 7 of closure cap 5 to guardagainst excessive pressure -build up due to temperature rise within thecylinder.

In operation pin 15 may be depressed -by some external mechanical meansor in any other Asuitable manner. For example, a conventional charginghose having typical tirecore valve depressor may be threadedly attachedto threaded member 11 and the pin depressed lby turning the hose in aclock-wis'e direction. Depression of the pin will downwardly bias theposition of plug members 17 and 19'. Slight depression of the pin byattachment of the charging hose lowers the position of the upper plugmember 17 thereby allowing the vapors to pass through perforations 27and the passages 35 as shown in FIGURE 2. In the meantime plug member 19is simultaneously downwardly biased so that it does not totally obstructvapor passages 27 thus allowing the vapor to be withdrawn from thecylinder as indicated by the direction of the arrows in FIGURE 2. Whenliquid withdrawal is -desired the pin is further depressed until vaporpassages 27 yare totally obstructed `by lower plug member 19. The liquidin the cylinder which is under pressure can thus be withdrawn throughdip tube 23a land perforation 21a as indicated by the direction of thearrows in FIGURE 3. Plug member 19 can be constructed from plastic,rubber or rubberlike substance in order to insure that a tight seal isachieved when the plug member is lowered to obstruct vapor passages 27during liquid withdrawal operation. Similarly plug member 17 may Vbeconstructed of plastic, rubber or lrubber-like substance in order toalect a tight seal which insures against leakage when the valve is inthe normal closed position as indicated in FIGURE 1.

While the valve device of this invention has heretofore been describedand illustrated in the drawings with a certain degree of particularityand conciseness it should be nevertheless understood that manymodifications and revisions may be suggested in the light of thisdisclosure which are nevertheless comprehended within the scope of thisinvention. It should be pointed out however that when the valve deviceof this invention is used in conjunction with a typical charging hosehaving a tire-core valve depressor therein the device can normally beused only for the withdrawal of vapor since the degree of depression ofpin 15 is limited by the maximum depression action of the tire-corevalve in the charging hose with respect to the pin. Thus, if liquidwithdrawal is desired the charging hose should be disconnected and pin15 further depressed by some other external mechanical means in order tolower plug member 19 so that it may totally obstruct the vapor passagesin the tube connector, thus permitting liquid withdrawal.

The number and geometrical configuration of the perforations (vaporpassages) in the dip tube are not critical. Generally 1 to 8circumferentially and preferably equidistantly arrayed perforations aresuitable. Similarly, these perforations may be circular, oval,rectangular or any other shape, provided that suflicient flow area isavailable to prevent siphoning of liquid during vapor withdrawaloperation.

What is claimed is:

1. A device adapted to be attached to an opening on top of a pressurizedcontainer for the selective withdrawa1 of vapor or liquid therefrom,comprising, in combination, a receptacle member with a closed bottomhaving a substantially central opening therein, said receptacle memberbeing securely positioned into said opening of the pressurizedcontainer; a hollow extern-ally threaded member extending through saidopening in the closed bottom of said receptacle member and `beingsecurely engaged thereby; a substantially funnel-shaped member insidesaid pressurized container detned by a vertically extending hollowmember having a lower end and an upper end and a substantially truncatedconical wall portion extending from said upper end and having at leastone perforation circumferentially disposed therein; an e1011- gateddepressible member having an upper end and a lower end and extendingcentrally within said hollow externally threaded member; a unitarystructure defined by an upper seal member integrally attached to saidlower end of said elongated depressible member, a lower seal member andmeans for connecting said upper and said lower seal members, said lowerseal member being arranged to coact with said truncated conical wallportion to close said perforation when said depressible mem-ber isdepressed; and a resilient member positioned between said upper sealmember and said upper end of said vertically extending hollow member,said unitary structure having a passage way to thereby establishcommunication between said pressurized container and said hollow valvebody when said lower seal member is in sealing position with respect tosaid perforation in said conical wall portion.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said truncated wall portion contains aplurality of circumferentially arrayed perforations.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said truncated wall portion contain aplurality of circumferentially arrayed perforations equidistantly spacedtherein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,867,356 1/1959 ThomasZ22-402.17 X 3,191,816 6/1965 Frad et lal 222--402.19 3,283,962 ll/l966Whitmore Z22-402.18

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

I. R. DWELLE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. XR.

